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Green Chem., 2009, 11, 1595 - 1604, DOI: 10.1039/b913057h

Phosphonium ionic liquids: design, synthesis and evaluation of biodegradability

Farzad Atefi, M. Teresa Garcia, Robert D. Singer and Peter J. Scammells

The biodegradability of a range of phosphonium ionic liquids (ILs) was assessed using the CO2 headspace test (ISO 14593). Tetraalkylphosphonium cations in which one of the alkyl substituents contained ester, ether, alcohol or alkene functionality in order to promote biodegradation were targeted. These cations were paired with halide, triflimide and octylsulfate anions. In contrast to previously studied dialkylimidazolium and alkylpridinium ILs with incorporated ester moieties and octylsulfate anions, the phosphonium ILs showed relatively low levels of biodegradability.

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